Private Dancer is one of the best selling albums of the 80'th with no less than seven single releases. After the success with Let's Stay Together in 1983, Tina’s new record company Capitol wanted a complete album, which was recorded in only two weeks in London. Al Greens Let’s Stay Together (from the 1983 B.E.F. session) and The Beatles Help, the first two singles, were produced and released before the recording of the album. What’s Love Got To Do With It was the first single to promote the album and topped the American charts while Tina was on tour with Lionel Richie. I Might Have Been Queen and Show Some Respect are very autobiographical and especially written for Tina. Better Be Good To Me (Spider), I Can’t Stand The Rain (Ann Peeples), Steel Claw (Paul Brady) and 1984 (David Bowie) are cover songs. Private Dancer was an unreleased Dire Straits song, because Mark Knopfler thought it's a song for a woman. The European single Help was not included in the original American release and the Australian edition contains the extra track Rock'n Roll Widow.
While Tina was on tour in Europe, the album was released as a wonderful Picture Disc. For promotion, Capitol Records issued a 4-Track Sampler for radio stations.
Photographer: Peter Ashworth, Brian Aris
Release: May 29, 1984
Label: Capitol / EMI
Format: Vinyl (Colored, Picture) / CD / Cassette / Digital
Charts: UK: #2 / Germany: #2 / Europe: #1 / USA: #3 (Pop), #1 (R&B) / Australia #7
Certifications: UK: 3x Platinum / Germany: 5x Gold, 2x Platinum / USA: 5x Platinum
Grammy: Album of the Year (Nomination) / Record of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocals for „What’s Love Got To Do With It“ / Best Female Rock Vocals for „Better Be Good To Me“ (1985)
Tracks
- I Might Have Been Queen 4:10
- What’s Love Got To Do With It 3:49
- Show Some Respect 3:18
- I Can’t Stand The Rain 3:41
- Private Dancer 7:11
- Let’s Stay Together 5:16
- Better Be Good To Me 5:10
- Steel Claw 3:48
- Help 4:30
- 1984 3:09
SHE'S HOT! The L.A. Times says: "She melts vinyl." People magazine calls her: "A peerless live performer." US says: "She's the "grittiest rock and roll singer in the world." And Rolling Stone gave her new album four stars.
Billboard - July 28, 1984
Let’s Stay Together
is a soul song from Al Green and was produced by Martyn Ware and Greg Walsh, the same team behind the previous single Ball Of Confusion and was released before the recording of the album. It was a big hit in Europe and became the best selling 12“ record in America in 1984. Because the cover picture from Norman Seeff was controversial in America, they reversed the front and back pictures for the American release. An officially never released Alternative radio Mix with a different instrumental background and solo, an intro from Heaven 17 and additional vocal parts from Tina, was only available on a promo single in England.
The music video was filmed in October 1983 in London. It shows Tina first alone and later together with her female dancers Ann Behringer and Lejune Richardson dancing in a spotlight and in a second scene with fire in the background.
Writer: Al Green, Willie Mitchel, Al Jackson Jr.
Producer: Martyn Ware & Greg Walsh
Photographer: Norman Seeff
Release: November 1983 (Europe) / January 1984 (USA)
Format: 7“ Vinyl / 12“ Vinyl (Picture), Cassette
Charts: UK: #6 / Germany: #18 / USA: #26 (Pop), #1 (Club Play)
Certifications: 1x Silver (UK)
Grammy: Best R&B Vocal Performance (Nomination 1985)
Music Video: 3:38 / David Mallet (Director), Pam James (Producer)
Alternative radio Mix
- Let’s Stay Together (Edit) 3:39
- Let’s Stay Together (Full Length Version) 5:16
- Let’s Stay Together (Alternative radio Mix) 3:46
- Let’s Stay Together (Remix) 9:27
- Let’s Stay Together (Extended Edit) 7:31
- I Wrote A Letter 3:25
Help
is a Beatles cover, recorded from Tina with Richard Perry in 1981 at Studio 55 in Los Angeles. The TV-Special What Makes Her Hot from 1985 shows a short scene of the recording session. This very different version stayed unreleased until 1984, when it was released as the second European single to promote Tina’s ongoing UK-Tour.
The music video shows a nightclub with guests sitting at tables in front of a stage, where Tina performes the song together with her band and dancers (Ann Behringer and Lejune Richardso). At the end, the curtain closes and Tina disappears in a ray of light.
Capitol Records Are Proud To Announce The Release Of The New Single HELP — Available On 7“ & 12“ — From the tourbook
Writer: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Producer: Joe Sample, Wilton Felder & Ndugu Chancler
Photographer: Norman Seeff
Release: February 1984
Format: 7“ Vinyl (Picture) / 12“ Vinyl
Charts: UK: #40 / Europe: #30
Music Video: 3:41 / Simon Milne (Director)
- Help (Edit) 3:45
- Help (Full Length Version) 4:30
- Rock’n Roll Widow 4:45
What’s Love Got To Do With It
is a pop song and Tina’s first number one hit in America. It was released as the first single to promote the album, while she was on tour with Lionel Richie. The song won two Grammy Awards in 1985 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 1993, it was used as the title for the biographical movie What’s Love Got To Do With It about Tina’s life story. In 2018, a special Symphonic Version was released digitally, and the Norwegian DJ Kygo released a remix as a digital single in 2020, which topped the iTunes charts in many countries.
The first music video was filmed totally in black and white in the S&A studios in Los Angeles. It is very artistically with an absolutely gorgeous looking Tina, but it is also a little bit melancholic. The second one is totally different and much more positive, filmed live in New York City with Tina in a black mini skirt and a jeans jacket. She is looking at the East River at a ferry and comes later from a tube station, walking down the streets and interacting with different peoples. At the end, she stops at a chalk drawing of the Private Dancer cover. This video features Pamela Springsteen, the sister of Bruce Springsteen as a street dancer. It won a MTV Video Music Award in the category 'Best Female Video' in 1985.
Writer: Terry Britten, Graham Lyle
Producer: Terry Britten
Photographer: Peter Ashworth, Brian Aris
Release: May '84 (USA) / June '84 (UK) / Juli '84 (Germany) / 2010 (Digital)
Format: 7“ Vinyl / 12“ Vinyl (Picture) / Digital
Charts: USA: #1 / Australia: #1 / Canada: #1 / UK: #3 / Germany: #7 / Europe: #9, #2 (Airplay)
Certifications: USA: 1x Gold / UK: 1x Silver
Grammy: Best Pop Vocal Performance Female / Record of the Year (1985)
American Music Award: Favorite Soul/R&B Single / Favorite Pop/Rock Single (Nominated 1985)
Music Video: 3:47 / Mark Robinson (Director), John Caldwell (Producer)
Music Video: 3:50 / Bud Schaetzle (Director)
- What’s Love Got To Do With It 3:48
- What’s Love Got To Do With It (Extended Version) 5:45
- What’s Love Got To Do With It (Karaoke Version) 3:51
- What’s Love Got To Do With It (2016 DJ Edit) 5:11
- What’s Love Got To Do With It (Ken@Work Jackin’ Mix) 5:03
- Don’t Rush The Good Things 3:45
- Rock’n Roll Widow 4:45
Better Be Good To Me
is a rock cover from the band Spider, released as the fourth single. For her vocal performance on this song, Tina received her third solo Grammy Award in 1985.
The music video was filmed in June 1984 at the Beverly Theater in Los Angeles, which was packed with fans, invited by advertisements on local radio. It shows Tina with a black leather jacket and trousers together with her band (including guitarist Jamie West-Oram from the The Fixx) on stage. Cy Curnin dances the part of Turner's mendacious lover, which was choreographed by Toni Basil. The video was nominated in 1985 for a MTV Video Music Award in the category 'Best Stage Performance'.
Writer: Holly Knight, Mike Chapman
Producer: Rupert Hine
Photographer: Peter Ashworth
Release: August ’84 (USA) / September '84 (UK) / January '85 (Germany)
Format: 7“ Vinyl (Picture) / 12“ Vinyl / Cassette
Charts: USA: #5 / UK: #45 / Germany: #52 / Australia: #28
Grammy: Best Rock Vocal Performance (1985) / Best Rock Vocal Performance (Nomination 1988)
Music Video: 4:03 / Brian Grant (Director), Adrian Irving (Producer)
- Better Be Good To Me (Edit) 3:40
- Better Be Good To Me (Extended Version) 7:47
- Better Be Good To Me (Live) 4:36
- Better Be Good To Me (Extended Dance Edit) 8:53
- When I Was Young 3:11
Private Dancer
is a wonderful pop ballad and remained unreleased from a Dire Straits recording session, because Mark Knopfler thought it’s a song for a woman. A special promo single with slightly different lyrics was released for airplay, because company advertising wasn’t allowed in England. Instead of „American Express Will Do Nicely, Thank You“ it features „A Few Pounds Sterling Will Do Nicely, Thank You“.
The music video was filmed at the Rivoli Ballroom in London. It shows Tina as a hostess, looking tired and pale. She is dancing with a man in a dance hall and after a while she starts to dream, experiencing several different scenes in which she looks beautiful in a sequin dress. As she wakes up, she sees the sad reality again and turns away from her dance partner, running out of the room. The video received a MTV Video Music Awards nomination in 1985 in the category 'Best Choreography‘. A longer version features an extended intro and instrumental part.
Writer: Mark Knopfler
Producer: John Carter
Photographer: Norman Seeff
Release: October '84 (Germany) / November '84 (USA) / January '85 (UK)
Format: 7“ Vinyl / 12“ Vinyl
Charts: USA: #7 / Europe: #12 / Germany: #20 / UK: #26 / Australia: #21
Music Video: 4:23 (short) / 5:25 (long) / Brian Grant (Director), Pam James (Producer)
- Private Dancer (Edit) 4:01
- Private Dancer (Full Length Version) 7:14
- Private Dancer (Sterling Version) 3:54
- Keep Your Hands Off My Baby 3:44
- Nutbush City Limits (Live) 3:06
- River Deep, Mountain High (Live) 4:14
I Can’t Stand The Rain
was originally written and a hit single from Ann Peebles in 1973 and was the last single in Europe, instead of Show Some Respect in the rest of the world, while Tina was on tour.
The live music video taken from Tina’s concert at the NEC in Birmingham. Tina dressed with a white trouser performs on stage, partly together with her pianist Kenny Moore.
Writer: Ann Peebles, Don Bryant, Bernard Miller
Producer: Terry Britten
Release: February 1985 (UK) / March 1985 (Germany)
Format: 7“ Vinyl / 12“ Vinyl
Charts: Germany: #9 / UK: #57
Music Video: 3:19 / David Mallet (Director), Jacqui Byford (Producer)
- I Can’t Stand The Rain 3:43
- I Can’t Stand The Rain (Extended Version) 5:43
- Let’s Pretend We’re Married (Live) 4:16
- Nutbush City Limits (Live) 3:06
Show Some Respect
is a very autobiographical song, because it was especially written for Tina. It is the last single in North America and Australia, instead of I Can’t Stand The Rain in Europe.
The live music video taken from Tina’s concert at the NEC in Birmingham and shows Tina with a white trouser and top, performing the song on stage.
Writer: Terry Britten, Sue Shifrin
Producer: Terry Britten
Release: March 1985
Format: 7“ Vinyl / 12“ Vinyl
Charts: USA: #37 / Canada #42 / New Zealand #41
Music Video: 3:08 / David Mallet (Director), Jacqui Byford (Producer)
- Show Some Respect 3:17
- Show Some Respect (Extended Version) 5:47
- Let’s Pretend We’re Married (Live) 4:16
Private Dancer Tour
Because of the massive success of the album and it’s singles, Tina went on the road again in 1985. After playing at small venues in 1984, booked before her big comeback, this tour continues in large, sold-out arenas all over the world. The setlist was different in Europe and the rest of the world, because in the meantime the soundtrack for the movie Mad Max was released and Tina added both new songs to the setlist.
The concert at the NEC in Birmingham, England on March 23 was released on home video, featuring special appearances by Bryan Adams and David Bowie. Bryan was also the opening act in Europe and performed at most of the concerts It’s Only Love together with Tina.
Opening Night: February 19, 1985 / Helsinki (Finland)
Closing Night: December 28, 1985 / Tokyo (Japan)
Regions: Europe, North America, Japan, Australia
Concerts: 180+
Visitors: 2.5 Mio.
The Band: Jack Bruno: Drums / James Ralston: Guitar & Vocals / Kenny Moore: Piano & Vocals / Phil Palmer: Guitar (Europe) / Bob Feit: Bass Guitar & Vocals / Timmy Cappello: Saxophone & Keyboards / Jimmy Lyon: Guitar (USA) / Jamie West-Oram: Guest Guitarist
- Let’s Pretend We’re Married
- Show Some Respect
- I Might Have Been Queen
- River Deep, Mountain High
- Nutbush City Limits
- What’s Love Got To Do With It
- I Can’t Stand The Rain
- Better Be Good To Me
- Private Dancer
- One Of The Living
- We Don't Need Another Hero
- Let’s Stay Together
- Help
- Proud Mary
- Steel Claw
- It’s Only Love
- Legs
- Tonight
- Let’s Dance
- Dancing In The Dark
- Out Of Time
Anniversary Edition
The album was reissued in 2015 to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the originally release with a two disc set on compact disc and a single vinyl record. It features the original European album on disc one, plus a bonus disc with all b-sides, extended mixes and some additional tracks. A 15 page booklet includes many rare Tina photos and the story behind the songs. The album was already reissued as a one disc Centenary Edition from EMI Records in 1997, with nearly the same tracks.
Release: June 2015
Label: Parlophone
Format: Vinyl / 2 CD / Digital
- Ball Of Confusion (Remix) 4:11
- I Wrote A Letter 3:24
- Rock’n Roll Widow 4:45
- Don’t Rush The Good Things 3:46
- When I Was Young 3:11
- Keep Your Hands Off My Baby 3:31
- Tonight (Live with David Bowie) 4:01
- Let’s Pretend We’re Married (Live) 4:13
- What’s Love Got To Do With It (Extended Mix) 5:48
- Better Be Good To Me (Extended Edit) 7:03
- I Can’t Stand The Rain (Extended Mix) 5:45
- Show Some Respect (Extended Mix) 5:45
- We Don’t Need Another Hero 4:16
- One Of The Living 4:13
- It’s Only Love (with Bryan Adams) 3:18
Private Dance Mixes
is a compilation which was only released in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. It includes all extended mixes from the album singles plus the live version of It's Only Love, recorded in Birmingham. The songs are divided into 'Dance Mixes' on the a-side and 'Rock Mixes' on the b-side. It was released to promote the Private Dancer Tour, because in this countries Tina was on tour in December 1985, which was eighteen months after the release of the Private Dancer album.
Release: November 1985
Label: Interfusion, Festival (Australia) / Capitol, Toshiba (Japan)
Format: Vinyl / CD / Cassette
Charts: Australia: #64
- Let’s Stay Together (Full Length) 5:16
- What’s Love Got To Do ... (Extended) 5:45
- I Can’t Stand The Rain (Extended) 5:43
- Show Some Respect (Extended) 5:47
- Better Be Good To Me (Extended) 7:47
- It’s Only Love (Live with Bryan Adams) 4:15
Private Dancer EP
is a video sampler, featuring four of the concept music videos from the single releases, only the video for Help is missing, which was not released outside of Europe.
Photographer: Peter Ashworth / Paul Cox
Release: 1984
Label: EMI / Pioneer
Format: VHS / Beta / LaserDisc
Charts: USA: #1 (41 weeks)
Grammy: Best Short Form Music Video (Nomination 1986)
Time: 18 Min.
- What’s Love Got To Do With It 3:48
- Better Be Good To Me 4:05
- Let’s Stay Together 3:38
- Private Dancer (Long Version) 5:25
Private Dancer Live
features selected tracks from the NEC in Birmingham, England on March 23, 1985, including special appearances by David Bowie and Bryan Adams. It was also broadcasted from the Westwood One Radio Network and from HBO in America.
In Europe, it was reissued together with a compact disc as the Tina Live - CD & Video Double Pack. Although most of the songs were already released on Live In Europe, some of the tracks are exclusively available on this album.
Westwood One Presents — Stereo Simulcast with HBO — Tina Turner featuring Guest Appearances by David Bowie and Bryan Adams — June 8 — Promotional
Director: David Mallet
Photographer: Paul Cox
Release: June 08, 1985 (TV) / August 1985 (Video) / 1994 (Double Pack)
Label: PMI / EMI
Format: VHS / Video 8 / LaserDisc / VHS
Charts: USA: #2
Grammy: Best Long Form Music Video (Nomination 1986)
Time: 55 Min.
- Intro 0:57
- Show Some Respect (Live) 3.47
- I Might Have Been Queen (Live) 4.03
- What’s Love Got To Do With It (Live) 3.53
- I Can’t Stand The Rain (Live) 3.23
- Better Be Good To Me (Live) 6.34
- Private Dancer (Live) 6.20
- Let’s Stay Together (Live) 5.06
- Help (Live) 5.57
- It’s Only Love (Live Tina & Bryan Adams) 3:43
- Tonight (Live Tina & David Bowie) 5:22
- Let’s Dance (Live Tina & David Bowie) 5.18
MTV Video Music Awards / WWF-Club / Wogan / Lørdagsbilaget / Wetten Dass..? / Countdown / Riva Del Garda / Solid Gold
TV-Appearances
Italy: Domenica in: Let’s Stay Together (November 27, 1983) / Premiatissima: Let’s Stay Together (1983) / Riva Del Garda: What’s Love Got To Do With It, Better Be Good To Me (September 28, 1984) / DeeJay: Interview (1984)
Germany: Na Sowas!: Let’s Stay Together (December 05, 1983) / Bananas: Let’s Stay Together (January 10, 1984), Private Dancer (October 02, 1984) / WWF-Club: Let’s Stay Together (January 13, 1984), What’s Love Got To Do With It (September 21, 1984) / Bei Bio: What’s Love Got To Do With It, Interview, Let’s Stay Together (September 27, 1984) / Wetten Dass…?: I Can’t Stand The Rain (May 18, 1985)
UK: The Tube: Concert (December 16, 1983) / Leo Sayer Show: Help (February 27, 1984) / Harty: Help (February 29, 1984) / Top of the Pops: Help (March 15, 1984) / Razzmatazz: Interview (April 18, 1984) / Late Late Breakfast Show: Better Be Good To Me (September 22, 1984) / BRIT Awards: What’s Love Got To Do With It (February 11, 1985) / Wogan: I Can’t Stand The Rain, Interview (February 18, 1985)
USA: Solid Gold: Let’s Stay Together (February 04, 1984), What’s Love Got To Do Wiht It (September 08, 1984), Private Dancer (February 09, 1985), Better Be Good To Me (February 23, 1985) / Late Show: Interview (May 31, 1984) / Friday Nights Video: Interview (September 14, 1984), Interview (1985) / MTV Video Music Awards: What’s Love Got To Do With It (September 14, 1984), Receiving Award (September 13, 1985) / Stars of Tomorrow: Interview (1984) / This Week’s Music: What’s Love Got To Do With It (1984) / American Music Awards: Private Dancer (January 28, 1985) / Saturday Night Live: What’s Love Got To Do With It, Private Dancer, Better Be Good To Me, Sketch (February 02, 1985) / Grammy Awards: What’s Love Got To Do With It (February 26, 1985) / Good Morning America: Interview (May 22, 1985)/ Bobbie Wygant: Interview (November 01, 1985) / An Intimate Talk with the Queen of Rock: Interview (1985) / Entertainment Tonight: Interview (1985) / MTV Videos: Host (1985) / What Makes Her Hot: Special (1985)
France: Hotel Raphael: Interview (September 24, 1984) / Cocoricocoboy: What’s Love Got To Do With It, Sketch (October 02, 1984) / Platine 45: Let’s Stay Together (February 15, 1984), What’s Love Got To Do With It (10.11.1984) / Champs-Elysées: What’s Love Got To Do With It, Better Be Good To Me (May 11, 1985)
Spain: Cap d’any: Concert (December 31, 1983) Netherlands: Je Ziet Maar: Interview (January 27, 1984) / Countdown: Interview (1985) Australia: Countdown: Interview (October 14, 1984), Show Some Respect, I Can't Stand The Rain, Interview (December 16, 1984) Belgium: Hotel Américain: What’s Love Got To Do With It, Private Dancer (1984) Sweden: Unknown Show: Better Be Good To Me, Interview (1984) Norway: Lørdagsbilaget: Interview (February 23, 1985) Canada: Ann Rohmer: Interview (1985) / Good Rockin’ Tonite: Interview (1985) / NTV Newfoundland: Special (1985)